Anatomy of a Good Protester

[STI]

While in Ottawa, I was given literature about what should be worn at a protest. There were two major problems with this, though. Neither of these problems are anybody's "fault", they're simply caused by the limitations of the means used.

1)The first problem was that the literature was handed out too late. Not everybody had the time or ability to properly and adequately prepare, as the literature was handed out the day before. A readily-accessable internet source would aid protesters in preparation beforehand.
2)Due to the lack of space available, inadequate explainations for the necessity of each article of clothing, item, etc. were given. To be fair, this was likely entirely due to the lack of space. Regardless of the reasons, this lack of explaination caused myself (and probably others) to miss the necessity of some items, leading them to 'blow them off'. This had, for me, (again, probably others as well), potentially-severe consequences.

That being said, here is a good rundown of what you need to bring to a protest, and why.

What to Wear

Head Protection

Hat/Helmet - This will, of course, protect against the cold. A large portion of your body heat is lost through the head, and hypothermia (a drop in body temperature) can be serious (and, in more serious cases, fatal). If you have long hair, a hat will stop cops from getting a nice handful of your beautiful locks. If a cop gets ahold of your hair, you're rather vulnerable. If a cop tries to grab your hair, you can easily slip out of the hat, evading him effectively. If you have long hair, put it in a ponytail or bun in the back of your head, keeping it within your hat. This will give the cops one less thing to "grab at". A helmet will offer the same protection, and it will also protect your head from being smacked with a batton. Good helmets may be hard to find, though, and, since not many people wear them, they make you easy to point out. There's also the option of wearing a "Shemagh". It's a type of head-covering thing. It covers your face and the top of your head. (Shemagh Picture (http://www.actiongear.com/agcatalog/shemagh.html) **Add-on: Exposed hair will also trap tear gas, releasing it over time, just like fleece. This makes hats even more necessary**

Gas Mask - This will protect your face from assaults, as well as the more obvious barrier against pepper spray and tear gas. Get one with shatter-proof lenses, and avoid masks with asbestos filters. Asbestos causes cancer. To be honest, I really don't know enough about Gas Masks, but a Google search should produce some decent results. I understand that Gas Masks may be expensive and hard to come by, but luckily, it's possible to substitute a mask with regular household items (though thse aren't as effective as gas masks):

Eye Protection - Shatter-proof swim goggles. These will protect your eyes from rubber bullets and pepper spray. Spit in the goggles, swish it around, then wipe it out, to protect against fogging. DO NOT wear glasses/sunglasses, as these are prone to fogging and shattering. DO NOT wear contact lenses, as these will trap pepper spray in your eyes, increasing your immediate suffering and greatly increasing the risk of long-term damage. If you require glasses, get prescription swim goggles.

Respratory Protection - Tie a bandana, soaked in apple cider (AC) vinegar, around your nose and mouth, tied at the back of your head. Use AC vinegar, as other types of vinegar are hard on your lungs/throat. This will help protect against tear gas. If you can't get AC vinegar, use lemon juice, or even water is better than nothing. This should only be done if absolutely necessary, as they are not as effective as AC Vinegar. To protect your mouth and nose from irritation, and to take away the "sharp" taste and smell of AC Vinegar, wear a surgical mask over your face, and the bandana over the mask. Surgical masks are inexpensive (about $5 CDN for a package of 5 at almost any pharmacy), and make a great deal of difference. Bring extra, pre-soaked bandanas in ziploc-style bags to give to others (they too are inexpensive. The most expensive I've ever seen were $3.50 CDN, $2.50 US). A bandana will also help conceal your identity, keeping you secret from "RedWatch" and other such groups, and, should you have to flee, make you much harder to identify.

Upper Body

Shirt/Coat - Wear Layers. There are several reasons for this. First, layers make 'climate control' very easy. You can shed layers if its too hot, and you'll be protected if it's too cold. Don't wear cotton as your innermost layer, as it bleeds heat rather easily. Apparently, a product called "Underarmour" is very effective as an inner layer. It insulates when it's cold, and breathes when it's hot. It protects against rain and tear gas. It can be found at any sporting-goods store. It may be expensive, though. Second, layers protect against tear gas, which can irritate the skin. Make sure that you have at least one layer of long sleeves, and that the end of the sleeve clings to your wrist. This will keep tear gas off your skin. Your outermost layer should not be anything "fuzzy" (fleece, for example), as these materials hold tear gas, releasing them slowly over the next several days. If it's raining, wear a garbage bag as your outer layer. It will protect against the rain, and is easy to break out of if a cop gets ahold of it. Third, if you have many layers, and you're being pursued by police, you can slip into an alleyway, shed a layer or two (as well as your head gear), and look totally different. Wear clothing you don't mind losing/having ruined. You may get rips and tears in your shirt, and they may get covered in paint (if you or anybody else decides to throw paint-balloons at the masks of riot cops - a pretty good strategy). You may also have to 'slip out of' a shirt or coat if a cop gets ahold of it. Avoid 'v-necks', as they expose your chest and throat to the cold (which is like asking to get sick). Avoid collars, as they're an easy target for a cop's hand to grab at.

Hands

Gloves/Mitts - They protect agaisnt the cold and make your hands less vulnerable to minor cuts/scrapes/bumps. If a cop gets ahold of your hand, it's easy to slip out of a cheap pair of gloves, and you can evade the bastard. Conversely, it can be tough to rip down a barricade with gloves on, as they inhibit grip, but they can be taken off shortly, then put back on afterward. They're extremely inexpensive, so they can be lost without much fretting. Make sure there's no exposed skin between the end of your sleeve and the beginning of your glove. Overlap them.

Lower Body

Pants - "Long John" underwear are nice and warm. On top of them, wear a pair of track pants, then, as your outermost layer, something loose, but not too loose. A pair of jeans, maybe. If you live somewhere hot, underarmour is effective. In either case, make sure you can move around well, and don't mind losing them. This will protect you from the cold, allow you to move freely, and, if necessary, evade police by taking off the jeans in the alleyway. You may want to tuck your pant-legs into your socks. This eliminates the risk of having your pant-bottoms stepped on, causing you to trip. It won't look pretty, but that's not what's important. Lots of pockets are useful, as they can be used to carry water, food, first aid supplies, extra masks/bandanas, and money (only a bit, $10-$15, as, if you're arrested, your cash may find a way into the hands of a cop).

Feet

Socks - Wear two or three pairs of socks. It'll keep you warm and protect against blisters. Comfortability is key with your feet, as you never know when you'll have to run or push.

Shoes - Comfortable, closed-toe shoes are best. Steel-toe boots are good, as they protect against the hooves of police horses and the foot-stompings of riot cops. Steel-toes present a couple problems, though: they're tough to run in, and they aren't too comfortable. It comes down to personal choice, really. In either case, good grip is a necessity. It's tough to push back a line of cops when you're wearing bowling shoes. Make sure you're comfortable standing, walking, and running in your shoes, whatever you do. All are liable to happen during a protest.

Crotch

Jock Strap - No mincing words here. A cop may very well decide to blast a rubber bullet at your crotch. This will hurt like hell. Offer yourself some protection by wearing a jock. It'll free up the hand that would otherwise have been used to "cover" the area.

What to Bring

Water - Around 3 bottles. Dehydration leads to early exhaustion, and all-around uncomfortablility. The physical feeling of thirst is too late a warning, so drink often enough to not get thirsty. When you fill your water bottles, the water should be tepid or warm, as it will become 'cool' after being outside for a while. 'Cool' water is absorbed more easily by your body, decreasing the risk of cramps. Bring enough water to share. **Add-on: Drink your water durink "calm" periods. When it gets intense, you're not thinking about water, so it's best to have a bit 'stored up', as it were.**

Food - Light, high-calorie foods are best. Peanut Butter sandwiches are good, as logn as you have enough water to 'wash it down' with. Granola bars are good too. Both offer quick, stable energy, without weighing you down. Bring enough to share.

Money - Only as much as you need. Maybe you'll need to catch a quick cab away from a pursuit. You may have to slip into a grocery store to pick up food for a group of hungry comrades. You really just never know.

First Aid Supplies - Only what you've been trained to use. Improper use of first aid material can be dangerous, but, if used properly, it can be the difference between somebody leaving and staying.

Extra Masks/AC Vinegar/Bandanas - Undoubtedly, some comrades will forget their chemical weapons protection. Have pre-soaked bandanas in ziploc bags ready, as well as extra surgical masks. Some people will just bring masks, forgetting or neglecting to use AC Vinegar. Having AC Vinegar ready for them to use could mean a world of difference.

A carrying bag/backpack - You'll need a place to put your stuff, as only so much will fit in your pockets (and you don't want all that stuff clunking around on your legs when you're running away). If you need to shed layers of clothing, store food, or whatever else may come up, a bag will come in handy. If nothing else, it can be used as a makeshift "sheild" against police battons. Make sure that your bag is only as big as necessary. You don't want a big lugging bag weighing you down and bulking you up.

*Anything Else you and your group agree on taking* (some people rip the bristol board off of their placards, creating effective clubs. Others bring paint to obstruct the vision of police. Walkie-Talkies will help communication both within your group and with other groups. The sky is the limit, really).

Medics

*If you are a street medic, you should have recieved some training. Do not attempt to use any of the following supplies if you haven't been adequately trained.*

Liquid Antacid Water (LAW) - Mix one part water with one part Maalox (or generic equivilent). This will neutralize pepper spray and tear gas.

Squirt-bottle of Water - This should be used to wash pepper spray out of the eyes of fellow protesters. It can also be used to clean cuts if you don't have anticeptic pads or rubbing alcohol.

AC Vinegar - You should have this anyway, but, as a medic, you have the added responsibility of caring for the well-being of the other protesters, and, of course, preventive care is the best. Others will require AC vinegar, and you should be actively offering it to them.

Rubber Gloves - Absolutely necessary. You're likely to be working with broken skin, so, for the protection of both you and the victim, gloves are a must. Have both Latex and non-Latex gloves readily available, as some people are allergic to Latex.

Triangle Bandages - Great for almost any injury. Can be used as a dressing for cuts, a sling for breaks/strains, and part of a splint, if necessary.

Tensor Bandages - Sore feet, sore hands, sore wrists, anything.

Gauze - Good for treating cuts and whatnot.

Flat, straight pieces of wood - You'll need these to construct splints.

Anticeptic Wipes/Rubbing Alcohol - Cuts need to be cleaned. Who knows, you might need to wash something off your hands.

Band-Aids - For more minor scrapes and the like.

Any other first aid gear you can think of. I should be able to name more right now, but I'm totally braindead right now.

Something to indicate you as a medic. Either the Insignia of Medics for Militant Action (http://action-medical.net/) or a red cross should be worn on your shoulders, your back (or backpack), and your front. I would advise agaisnt the "red cross" symbol, though, as it is associated with the International Red Cross, whose fundamental principles include "impartiality", "neutrality", and an array of others. Impartial and Neutral you ain't.

If there's anything I've missed/gotten wrong, feel free to add. I'd be happy to take any criticism you have to offer. I hope this will be used as an effective resource for protest preparation.

[cormacobear]

This is good info. This thread should get stickied so people can check in on it, when they read about a protest in this forum.

[Vallegrande]

How about walky talkies, for the real strategists out there?

[STI]

That would probably fall under the "*Anything Else you and your group agree on taking*" Category, but I'll add it in anyway. Thanks.

Speaking of tactics, I was doing some thinking last night. How would one go about writing down "battle strategies" on paper, while making account for time-lapse? I'm sure there's a way, I just don't know it.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

That's an ass-load of shit for your face. Nobody is gonna wear a bandana, goggles, a gas mask, and a hat or helmet. I'd suggest the hat, and have a bandana if they pull out the gas. You don't have enough time between the moment the pigs pull out the mace or the tear gas and the moment that it makes contact with your eyes to put on a gas mask.

The food suggestions are great. Gloves too. Money is necessary. Also plenty of water of course...

The clothing suggestions... well, it really depends on where you're protesting. I'm in Florida. During the summer, you don't wanna wear longjohn underpants, even if that's the only thing you're wearing.

I'd also suggest very much a large messenger bag or a backbag. Having to carry around a bunch of shit sucks ass. You need a place to put clothes that you may be removing (layers shirts are a good idea no matter where you are), water, food, flyers, posters, etc...

[Agent provocateur]

A good idea is to wear a jockstrap. You don't want a rubber bullet hitting your balls or cock. Ouch

[pandora]

What do babies and children where as they're always getting pepper sprayed here? What shoe wear protects against being stepped on by horses, as happened to a young girl here? And what head wear helps against tanks as in LA?

The fact is as we enter a more militantly facist state the idea of trying to protect yourself except in sheer numbers or with media becomes pointless.

That being said, I swear on water bottles with a blend of maalox and water for pepper spray. It works miracles, light on the maalox.

Also people do wear all that gear here, but they will reach your gas mask and spray under it, and you can be arrested for wearing a gas mask, which is utterly ridiculous simply because you're limiting their ability to "control you"

[Vallegrande]

It's interesting I saw a person on the November '99 protests against WTO here in Seattle, and he was wearing this wierd looking box on his head. When the cops fired those rubbers at him he stuck his head down and I saw how that box blocked the bullets. That was just pretty damned smart. He musta been hit a few times to figure that out! :lol:

[h&s]

Bloody hell s_t, thats a pretty damn good list.

DO NOT wear glasses....If you require glasses, get prescription swim goggles.

For us blind people out here, how much do they cost?

[STI]

That being said, I swear on water bottles with a blend of maalox and water for pepper spray. It works miracles, light on the maalox.


I would have put that down, but that's more of a "Medic" thing.

Heh, actually, I originally had a small "medic" section to it, but when I tried to post, i got logged out, so I lost EVERYTHING and had to do it again <_<


For us blind people out here, how much do they cost?

I found These (http://www.sporteyes.com/barzswim.htm) after a bit of a google search. They&#39;re &#036;33. A bit pricey, I know. You might find them cheaper from your eye doctor.

I understand that it may be frustrating. Who wants to spend an extra &#036;30 on swim goggles? Nobody&#33; It&#39;s totally necessary, though. Glasses and Contacts are simply not practical or safe. I really can&#39;t stress this point enough.


A good idea is to wear a jockstrap. You don&#39;t want a rubber bullet hitting your balls or cock. Ouch

Joke or not, that&#39;s a pretty good idea. I can&#39;t remember if they inhibit movement, though. It&#39;s been so long since I&#39;ve worn one...

Ah, the good ol&#39; days of hockey.


Also people do wear all that gear here, but they will reach your gas mask and spray under it, and you can be arrested for wearing a gas mask, which is utterly ridiculous simply because you&#39;re limiting their ability to "control you"

If you commit a crime while wearing a mask, it&#39;s another crime on top of it. There was a lone cop on the march, near the middle of it, randomly telling people to "take off your mask" (read: bandana). It was hillarious.


That&#39;s an ass-load of shit for your face. Nobody is gonna wear a bandana, goggles, a gas mask, and a hat or helmet.

It&#39;s "Bandana/Surgical Mask/Goggles" OR "Gas Mask". And "Helmet" OR "Hat".

There were people wearing that in Ottawa. I wore all of the first option except a hat and goggles, which, if given another chance, I would.


The clothing suggestions... well, it really depends on where you&#39;re protesting. I&#39;m in Florida. During the summer, you don&#39;t wanna wear longjohn underpants, even if that&#39;s the only thing you&#39;re wearing

You&#39;re right. I had "cold" in mind when I was writing that. The thing is, you pretty much have to wear layers all over your body (and long sleeves/pant legs) to protect against tear gas irritation on your skin. Beyond long johns, I really don&#39;t know what you&#39;d wear as an inner layer on your legs... Any suggestions?

This list may be "good" now, but for it to be great, I&#39;ll need help from people in warmer areas, and suggestions from everybody.


It&#39;s interesting I saw a person on the November &#39;99 protests against WTO here in Seattle, and he was wearing this wierd looking box on his head. When the cops fired those rubbers at him he stuck his head down and I saw how that box blocked the bullets. That was just pretty damned smart. He musta been hit a few times to figure that out&#33;

Was it a cardboard box?

[Vallegrande]

Was it a cardboard box?

:lol: No way, it had to be reinforced with something or else it would have caved in on him. It looked like a cardboard box, but it was much stronger than that, as the rubbers just bounced off of it...

I am not sure though, could cardboard be that strong?

[Lacrimi de Chiciură]

...You can get decent/cheap helmets and gasmasks at an army surplus store.

[STI]

Ya, but then you&#39;d be funding imperialism :lol:

[Pawn Power]

Our protection should be our overwhelming numbers. However, soaking a bandana in apple cider vinegar is practical.

[Synthesis of thought]

iif you buy a gun from a capitalist and then shoot another capitalist.. is that wrong... lol

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Originally posted by [email protected] 5 2004, 08:36 PM
This list may be "good" now, but for it to be great, I&#39;ll need help from people in warmer areas, and suggestions from everybody.
In hot weather it&#39;s still a good idea to wear shirts in layers. About three or so will do. Remember to have at least one short sleeve t-shirt. Long sleeve is good to have as well. You want to protect yourself as much as you can from rubber bullets, tear gas, or anything that could scratch or hurt your skin while you&#39;re in a massive multitude of people running away from cops.

I&#39;d always wear long pants, but depending on the heat, shorts may be more convenient.

Even though you hippies might like to wear sandals, and even though they might be more comfortable for hot weather, shoes are always better for walking a lot. Always.

No matter where you are, take a bag. Have some essentials like money, water, food, maybe a small umbrella, sun glasses, etc. It may even be a good idea to bring basic first aid supplies. But try to keep it as light as possible.

[Vallegrande]

How about building enough shields and clubs, forming a long line, and protecting others who happen to be attacked? I remember seeing a film of a band of protestors who had these shields and clubs, they got in line formation and marched right in front of the police, who wore plexi-glass shields and clubs. Right at the moment they all charged at once. It was such an orchestrated attack I just loved seeing it. It looked like a real battle that was done just right.

[KrazyRabidSheep]

Beyond long johns, I really don&#39;t know what you&#39;d wear as an inner layer on your legs... Any suggestions?

Underarmour.

I used to wear it in high scool when I played winger (footie) and safety (american football)

I cold weather it acts as an insulator; keeps the wind off your skin.
In warm weather it&#39;s breathable and keeps you cool by trapping moisture much like an undershirt does.
It&#39;s made to protect against astroturf, so it&#39;s reasonably durable, and it&#39;s skin-tight, so it works great for keeping spray off you.
Oh, did I mention it repels rain?
Smooth and skin tight, so there&#39;s nothing of it to grab

Wear a long sleave underarmour top and bottom, tee-shirt and jeans over, and your set.

Add a turtle-neck, jacket, and coat for cold weather
(I almost typed in hoodie, when i realized the hood is a perfect handle for a copper)

You can find it at any sporting good store.

http://www.underarmour.com/ua2/default.asp

[Pawn Power]

Originally posted by [email protected] 8 2004, 01:10 AM

Beyond long johns, I really don&#39;t know what you&#39;d wear as an inner layer on your legs... Any suggestions?

Underarmour.

I used to wear it in high scool when I played winger (footie) and safety (american football)

I cold weather it acts as an insulator; keeps the wind off your skin.
In warm weather it&#39;s breathable and keeps you cool by trapping moisture much like an undershirt does.
It&#39;s made to protect against astroturf, so it&#39;s reasonably durable, and it&#39;s skin-tight, so it works great for keeping spray off you.
Oh, did I mention it repels rain?
Smooth and skin tight, so there&#39;s nothing of it to grab

Wear a long sleave underarmour top and bottom, tee-shirt and jeans over, and your set.

Add a turtle-neck, jacket, and coat for cold weather
(I almost typed in hoodie, when i realized the hood is a perfect handle for a copper)

You can find it at any sporting good store.

http://www.underarmour.com/ua2/default.asp
Way to promote that capitalist brand. I wonder where this clothing is made? And how much the factory worker makes?

[STI]

Originally posted by [email protected] 8 2004, 04:24 AM
How about building enough shields and clubs, forming a long line, and protecting others who happen to be attacked? I remember seeing a film of a band of protestors who had these shields and clubs, they got in line formation and marched right in front of the police, who wore plexi-glass shields and clubs. Right at the moment they all charged at once. It was such an orchestrated attack I just loved seeing it. It looked like a real battle that was done just right.
In Ottawa, some people tore the bristol board (or whatever it was, as each case dictated), off their placards, leaving a nice wooden club to bat cops with.

One really cool guy ripped the batton out of a cops hand. It&#39;s always good to have &#39;protection&#39;.

I&#39;ll get to adding that other stuff in this afternoon. I&#39;m pressed for time right now.

[STI]

Added a small section for Street Medics. Remember to avoid attempting any first aid treatment without first having received proper training.

[Guest]

QUOTE
Beyond long johns, I really don&#39;t know what you&#39;d wear as an inner layer on your legs... Any suggestions?


Underarmour.

I used to wear it in high scool when I played winger (footie) and safety (american football)

I cold weather it acts as an insulator; keeps the wind off your skin.
In warm weather it&#39;s breathable and keeps you cool by trapping moisture much like an undershirt does.
It&#39;s made to protect against astroturf, so it&#39;s reasonably durable, and it&#39;s skin-tight, so it works great for keeping spray off you.
Oh, did I mention it repels rain?
Smooth and skin tight, so there&#39;s nothing of it to grab

Wear a long sleave underarmour top and bottom, tee-shirt and jeans over, and your set.

Add a turtle-neck, jacket, and coat for cold weather
(I almost typed in hoodie, when i realized the hood is a perfect handle for a copper)

You can find it at any sporting good store.

http://www.underarmour.com/ua2/default.asp

Way to promote that capitalist brand. I wonder where this clothing is made? And how much the factory worker makes?

uh, it&#39;s made in Maryland, chief. . .they have another couple factories in the mid-atlantic region. . .sorry to bust your "oppressed worker" bubble, but maybe you should concentrate on Nike&#39;s Malasian sweat shops

Second, what the hell difference does it make what brand you buy?

I only wrote down underarmour so people knew exactly what I was talking about. If I wrote "those sports thingys you wear under your football pads" that wouldn&#39;t be very clear, now would it?
the link was in case people still didn&#39;t know what it was (i realize not everyone is an athlete).
Buy whatever the hell you want. I couldn&#39;t care less.

I don&#39;t know how to make my own, and unless you do, I&#39;m fairly sure you&#39;ll have to buy your clothes like everyone else.

[STI]

While you&#39;re here, how much does it cost?

[Pawn Power]

Originally posted by [email protected] 8 2004, 03:29 PM


uh, it&#39;s made in Maryland, chief. . .they have another couple factories in the mid-atlantic region. . .sorry to bust your "oppressed worker" bubble, but maybe you should concentrate on Nike&#39;s Malasian sweat shops

Second, what the hell difference does it make what brand you buy?

I only wrote down underarmour so people knew exactly what I was talking about. If I wrote "those sports thingys you wear under your football pads" that wouldn&#39;t be very clear, now would it?
the link was in case people still didn&#39;t know what it was (i realize not everyone is an athlete).
Buy whatever the hell you want. I couldn&#39;t care less.


What, there are no oppressed workers in Maryland? It is important, as a Marxist, communist, or revolutionary; to continuously relate things back to the oppression of workers and the faults of capitalism. To constantly remind others how the wokering class is being screwed. That underarmer brand most likely charges the consumer over 10 times what it cost for it to be produced and the worker probally got less then one percent of that. When you support corporate brands you are watering the capitalist plant, if you know it or not.


I don&#39;t know how to make my own, and unless you do, I&#39;m fairly sure you&#39;ll have to buy your clothes like everyone else.
I am continually naked.

[STI]

What, there are no oppressed workers in Maryland? It is important, as a Marxist, communist, or revolutionary; to continuously relate things back to the oppression of workers and the faults of capitalism. To constantly remind others how the wokering class is being screwed. That underarmer brand most likely charges the consumer over 10 times what it cost for it to be produced and the worker probally got less then one percent of that. When you support corporate brands you are watering the capitalist plant, if you know it or not.


"The capitalists will sell us the rope we hang them with" - Lenin (one of the few times I&#39;ll quote him).

The fact of the matter is, that same "rant" (for lack of a better term and the motivation to find one) can be applied to anything you own. The food you eat? The clothes you wear? The computer you sit at?

Some things simply must be purchased, as it stands right now. If one could make one&#39;s own "version" of underarmour, I&#39;d encourage the use of that, but, realistically, this is the only viable alternative right now.

This is capitalism, and things, in capitalism, must be bought. You&#39;re confusing consumerism ("I want as much useless crap as possible because it makes up for the fact that I have no real self-esteem") with simply consuming things which are practical. Underarmour, if it&#39;s as great as it&#39;s said to be, makes one a "better" protester, or at least safer during a protest. This is detrimental to capitalism.


I am continually naked.

Cop-out.

[Pawn Power]

Originally posted by [email protected] 9 2004, 09:21 AM


"The capitalists will sell us the rope we hang them with" - Lenin (one of the few times I&#39;ll quote him).

The fact of the matter is, that same "rant" (for lack of a better term and the motivation to find one) can be applied to anything you own. The food you eat? The clothes you wear? The computer you sit at?

Some things simply must be purchased, as it stands right now. If one could make one&#39;s own "version" of underarmour, I&#39;d encourage the use of that, but, realistically, this is the only viable alternative right now.

This is capitalism, and things, in capitalism, must be bought. You&#39;re confusing consumerism ("I want as much useless crap as possible because it makes up for the fact that I have no real self-esteem") with simply consuming things which are practical. Underarmour, if it&#39;s as great as it&#39;s said to be, makes one a "better" protester, or at least safer during a protest. This is detrimental to capitalism.


Obviously there are certain things that we must purchase from capitalists, consequently they benefit. We should always hold corporations accountable for the crimes, the mark-up of cheaply made products, bad working conditions, swindling workers, ect.…It is important to persistently remind the capitalists they are not wanted. In all honesty, one could live a perfectly happy life with out under-armor; it is an item that does not have to be purchased. You can’t destroy capitalism by supporting its industries.

Congratulations on a thousand posts :D

[STI]

Obviously there are certain things that we must purchase from capitalists, consequently they benefit. We should always hold corporations accountable for the crimes, the mark-up of cheaply made products, bad working conditions, swindling workers, ect.…It is important to persistently remind the capitalists they are not wanted

By, perhaps, protesting them? And doing so more effectively by using the shit they sell us?


In all honesty, one could live a perfectly happy life with out under-armor; it is an item that does not have to be purchased. You can’t destroy capitalism by supporting its industries.


You could live a "happy life" without a lot of things. The fact of the matter is that underarmour makes the opposition to capitalism more effective.

You can destroy capitalism by overthrowing it. After the revolution, it won&#39;t matter who "supported" the underarmour company. It will no longer exist. What will matter is the benefit gained by having it.


Congratulations on a thousand posts

A thousand and one, thank you very much :P

[news]

a good protester would be somebody who could equaly be critic with the system.as he would be agaisnt himself.wich would mean you can evolve in a contructive maner,with your self and others.stay sharp and critic,don&#39;t be arrogant in thinkin you know better.
...

[Pawn Power]

By, perhaps, protesting them?
to shay


The fact of the matter is that underarmour makes the opposition to capitalism more effective.
please, come on

[STI]

Originally posted by [email protected] 9 2004, 03:37 PM
a good protester would be somebody who could equaly be critic with the system.as he would be agaisnt himself.wich would mean you can evolve in a contructive maner,with your self and others.stay sharp and critic,don&#39;t be arrogant in thinkin you know better.
...
I think you missed the point of the title. It was a reference to the physical supplies and garbs worn by the ideal protester (certainly not me).


please, come on

It protects you from the cold, the hot, the rain, and tear gas. I&#39;d say that helps as much as a surgical mask.

[Pawn Power]

It protects you from the cold, the hot, the rain, and tear gas. I&#39;d say that helps as much as a surgical mask.

auhh, thats cute

[news]

Originally posted by socialist_tiger+Dec 9 2004, 09:23 PM--> (socialist_tiger @ Dec 9 2004, 09:23 PM)
[email protected] 9 2004, 03:37 PM
a good protester would be somebody who could equaly be critic with the system.as he would be agaisnt himself.wich would mean you can evolve in a contructive maner,with your self and others.stay sharp and critic,don&#39;t be arrogant in thinkin you know better.
...
I think you missed the point of the title. It was a reference to the physical supplies and garbs worn by the ideal protester (certainly not me).


please, come on

It protects you from the cold, the hot, the rain, and tear gas. I&#39;d say that helps as much as a surgical mask. [/b]
go with a swat suit than or a american football uniform.don&#39;t forget to wear normal clothing under and throw you disguise up in the first bush after the action.

[STI]

What&#39;s with all these guests? It&#39;s tough to keep track of what the hell&#39;s going on.

[FriedFrog]

I&#39;d reccomend a Shemagh. Keeps you warm, protects your face and hair, disguises your identity if you needed to and it looks pretty cool too&#33; :P

Incase you dont know what a shemagh is... (http://www.actiongear.com/agcatalog/shemagh.html)

[STI]

I saw folks wearing those. I&#39;ll mention them in the list later. I have to go now, though... study for a job interview. <_<

[Anti-Capitalist1]

Originally posted by NoMan,[email protected] 10 2004, 10:36 AM
I&#39;d reccomend a Shemagh. Keeps you warm, protects your face and hair, disguises your identity if you needed to and it looks pretty cool too&#33; :P

Incase you dont know what a shemagh is... (http://www.actiongear.com/agcatalog/shemagh.html)
That is pretty neat.

Although, if you were walking alone down an american street with one of those on, you&#39;d probably be beaten by the violent relegiously intollerant people that are quite common here.

But for mass protests, it&#39;s perfect.

[STI]

Is it a religious dressing? It certainly "looks" like one, but that doesn&#39;t mean much.

[Vallegrande]

Yes if it is a religious dressing then it would be wrong for a police officer to tell that person to take she shemagh off&#33; So wear those and claim religion so they cannot tell you all to take them off. How interesting. Maybe there should be a religion for wearing gas masks too?

[Comrade Marcel]

Check this document out from PCR-RCP:

http://www.pcr-rcpcanada.org/English/publi...s/pwd/pwd1f.htm (http://www.pcr-rcpcanada.org/English/publications/pwd/pwd1f.htm)

RED FISTS

Communist organization in street demos
(Translated from the Summer 2001 edition of Socialisme Maintenant&#33; magazine.)

1. Street demos are under the control of reformists of all kinds for much too long. Under their leadership, demos have degenerated into useless activities in regard to class struggle. But unlike the most reactionary bourgeois politicians, these reformists (so-called "left-wing" politicians, trade-unionists, members of the NGOs, non-violent pacifists, etc.) do not wish to do away with demos, but to transform their very nature in order to use them as means to control or lead ideologically and politically in the class struggle.

2. Instead of calling upon the working class and the masses to take action—in street demos, for example, as part and parcel of the proletariat’s traditional means of class struggle—reformists will entertain a tendency of inertia, and this, by the very use of demonstrations. This may seem contradictory, but it is not in fact. Demos allow reformists to show their bourgeois partners that they have assumed perfect control and leadership over the working masses. They will exert tight control over the content (claims and political meaning) as well as the shape and form of the demo. The theme used in these circumstances (bland or terribly vague), the claims, the slogans, the chants, the course, the placards, the speeches, the means of transportation, serve in preventing the demonstrators from acting on their own initiative. This tendency of inertia is a bit thwarted by the need to stage a demo; a demonstrator must make his or her way to a given gathering point, provide for free time within her or his regular activities, etc. But once the demonstrators have gone through the necessary steps to partake in such an event, reformists will relish secretly the thought (...although this is less and less a secret), that these participants will be in fact reduced to mere passive instruments. This passivity will be wrongly construed as a political adherence, as a support to the ideological mechanism—put together by the bureaucratic organizers of the demos.

3. Passive and totally predictable demos are consequently perfectly in line with policing strategies and the State. These forces wish to assume control and leadership over the population. This will to control, whatever one may think, is not in contradiction with these types of demonstration as long as the organizers are able to evaluate the crowd that will show up, the nature of its different components, their command over the continuum time-space (initial gathering – course – eventual break-up) and finally an overall well sought out planning of the political event.

In the following words, this was expressed in a document of the "Institut de Perfectionnement des Cadres de la Police" (Institute for Improved Training of Superior Officers) of the Canadian Police College: "Crowd control is important, for once a crowd is out of control, it is too late to plan an intervention."

It is most important to carefully understand that police lose 50% to 60% of their efficiency (we are not talking here about its striking scene) when it must improvise an intervention that doesn’t fit in with its prior planning. There is an objective link between the ideology of control of the reformist-bureaucrats and that of the police and the State. This is detrimental of course to the struggle of the proletariat.

Olivier Fillieule (a French author) illustrates in pointed fashion this point of view. The following excerpts, in his work on policing in France, are particularly interesting to any activists who has felt trapped in between the police and the reformist organizers during a demonstration. What holds true for France, holds true for Québec and Canada.

"According to most French policemen who have been interviewed, a police intervention fails when security forces have been taken by surprise. The worst thing that can happen for them is to be taken by surprise. Planning is central to their actions.

"The intelligence gathered from the organizers comes partly from knowledge of the groups going to take part in the demonstration. Unlike what is commonly held true, the police are not suddenly made aware of a demo. On the contrary, there is connivance, if not mutual recognition between both parties. In order for a demo to run smoothly, there are talks that take place between the organizers and the police beforehand or while the event is taking place. This is the most commonly used tactic. These negotiations are done on an informal basis rather than in a legal framework.

"The effort made to reach a compromise can be made before the event, but during the event negotiations are equally important. This is why at every event there is a liaison agent. This agent must stay at the head of the demo and maintain communication with the organizers of the demo. [...] Negotiations, on the spur of the moment, with the demonstrators are made a lot easier this way. These ongoing negotiations lead to close collaboration between police forces and the stewards if they share common goals."

Fillieule gives an example of this, quoting a top police officer that partook in this kind of experience:

"If the procession is 800 meters long, the trouble makers must be isolated and the rest of the demonstrators—the group that detains a legal permit to demonstrate—must be able to reach their destination. It is quite easy to do this with the CGT and other professional organizations. They have disciplined stewards that can isolate outsiders. They create blockades, either they stop the demo, or hurry its pace, or cut it off. Sometimes they inform us of their intention of pushing the rioters into a given street. However no student organizers will do this [this is to be proven&#33;]. They do not want to be seen as collaborating with the police."

4. Big organizations such as trade-unions pretend that their strength resides in the impeccable organization of their passive and predictable demos. They say: "Look how well we can organize: there is nothing to worry about, our sound system is in perfect condition, we can be heard for miles [yeah, sure but a message of no importance&#33;], our people are in a festive mood while remaining respectable, this goes to show their level of social consciousness"; etc. This is a lot of bull shit. These passive demos are not a show of force, but evince on the contrary weakness. The working class is prevented from waging true struggle by politically attacking the enemy. If a worker is to demonstrate, he or she must attack the enemy, the bourgeoisie&#33;

5. To these well known passive and predictable demos can be added a new variety of non-violent civil disobedience actions. One aspect of this new variety is that it allows for a more vigorous way of struggling, appealing to young workers and students. However, its second aspect curtails the struggle to that of reformism. Trotskyism served the same purpose in the 60s and 70s by seducing scores of young protesters and young activists with a form of radical and critical speech. But after a lengthy detour of five, eight, ten years they led people back to classical reformism: socialist parties, State apparatuses, trade-unions, etc.

Civil disobedience has achieved the same thing, but in a lot less time. Many protesters have already in fact likened civil disobedience to civil obedience. This perception is quite truthful. By popularizing like a piece of merchandise the gesture of being voluntarily arrested, and in turning it in mere spectacle of symbolic value for the media, the most resolute supporters of this type of political action have simply converted once again struggle in regards to its fundamental content, even though different in form, into a link between reformist and police control.

A demo organized by Opération SalAMI in Montréal revealed this quite pointedly. We are referring to one of its most famous actions, the one that took place in front of the Sheraton Centre, the sit-in to protest against the OECD vying to reach a multilateral agreement on investments. During this action about a hundred people were arrested in 1998.

This is how things went on at that occasion: While the demonstrators were spontaneously gathering at their meeting place as do all demonstrators, the police force did not hesitate in clearing René-Lévesque Street. With sporadic nubs of their bludgeons and occasional spurts of pepper spray they kept the demonstrators at bay on the sidewalk. However as soon as the ones leading the demo (leaders in the broadest sense, including animators, sound technicians, media groups, organizers) moved forth to begin the demonstration (it is safe to assume that the police was aware of the time of this manoeuvre), police withdrew in order to let SalAMI start a slow walk down René-Lévesque, as planned. This led the marchers away from the Conference Centre. Thereof, at each street comer they came across, they covered the street sign bearing the name of that very street with a piece of cardboard on which was written another name.

SalAMI had organized a non-violent disobedience protest, but one that had strong approval by the police. This is of course perfectly contradictory. In fact civil disobedience is everything but what was settled on between SalAMI and the police. A spontaneous and untimely taking to the streets in order to disrupt the protest timetable, is an example. But the way SalAMI acted, there is no question they didn’t stage a civil disobedience protest. It was nothing more than a symbolic action approved by the police force and staged for the media. It was a civil obedience protest.

The same things goes for planned "sit-ins" or "teach-ins" that take place in areas or in streets where it was agreed upon with police so that circulation can be re-routed. These political actions are empty in content. It is a trickery that is meant to fool the demonstrators. Once again it is a mechanism that serves to link the political control of reformists to that of the State and the police.

6. The greatest danger that stems from these passive and predictable demos is that revolutionaries become complacent and reproduce within their own organizational structures those of these types of protests. Instead of putting to use the knowledge already gained by the revolutionary movement, they give into the disorganization proposed by the reformists. This will have as a result that any denunciation will become senseless, because the form of protest will be unworthy of properly conveying the message.

7. More and more this danger is perceived by revolutionaries who are striving, in truth of fact, through trial and error, but mainly in a manner that is unfortunately not unified, to make protests significant. This is one of the brightest aspects of class struggle since the last decade.

It must be said that faked-communists (revisionists) have completely estranged themselves from these firm and solid advancements. They have adopted in fact the discipline and the legal practices imposed by the bourgeoisie. This results in demos where the demonstrators are passively kept in toe with the reformist leaders.

Once the dangers of this dominant current are well understood, the dangers being of ending up caught disorganized within the frameworks of these sham protests, then we can work towards countering of these methods in order to give to proletarian protest the tactical nature they are suppose to have. To do this we must fully understand revolutionary methods in street demo organization. These ways of organizing will offer us an ironclad stronghold to lead struggles and the numerous upcoming protests.



What are Red Fists?

8. In demos, our most basic form of organization, are the Red Fists. Red Fists are, above all, based on a method of communist organization. A way of putting to full use our strength and of assigning roles for a street demo. Secondly, Red Fists are an active and lively form of solidarity shared by the vanguard where revolutionary activists pull together and partake in a concrete communist action.



Why do we use the expression "Red Fists"?

Firstly, the red color serves to express the communist and revolutionary content of the activity, considered as a whole, and not in its parts. This content is one of propaganda. It is this revolutionary and communist content which is determinant and decisive. It is not empty of meaning, a thing with a propagandist character that is undetermined, or void.

The fist is to underline a parenthood with one of the most practical, versatile, powerful and flexible tools known to humankind, something that comes from our very existence and our development on earth: the hand. A hand can be held opened, or it can be clenched in the form of a fist. In the shape of a fist it has the following characteristics:

a) It is united, inseparable and its members stick up for one another. A Red Fist is made up of five comrades who are in definition welded to one another. Ultimately they are called upon to stay united and stick up for each other for the duration of the demo, and in each different phase of the demo. Acting within a Red Fist is to act in order to preserve and safeguard this unity.

b) A Red Fist is also a tiny work association. The five members of the Red Fist work together as a team, mutually assisting each other and strengthening themselves reciprocally. Imagine for a minute your very own hand at work. Most of the time your five fingers work in unison. Once in awhile, to allow the index and the thumb to act, the other fingers are going to exert pressure on a given point; or they might circumvent an area, free it of some obstacle to foster eventual action. In other circumstances, all five fingers will act together, in oneness, to grasp an object. In truth of fact, we are faced with a very broad array of subtle combinations in which an action, even a very modest one, is done with the indispensable support of each and every finger.

c) Only one thing is performed at a time. A Red Fist cannot, as a hand cannot, efficiently perform more than one task at the time. Could you, for example, knock at a door, count your money and open peanut shells all at once? It would be quite difficult, wouldn’t it? One must choose. Only one thing can be efficiently done at any given time. It could however be possible to perform a planned series of actions. But one must determine if such a course of action would be useful and must seriously consider if each individual action will be well accomplished.

d) A Red Fist does not decide on its own what task it is going to perform. Does your hand decide on its own if it will crack peanut shells? Of course not. It doesn’t decide on its own either if it is going to count money or knock on a door. Your hand responds to a will. Even if this will is transient, and swift, as sudden as a bolt out of the blue, it proceeds nevertheless from a spontaneous and immediate plan conjured up by the brain. The Red Fist is strong and its action is warranted insofar as it is responding to a will. It knows that it is part and parcel of a broader scheme, the scheme that must take place in a demonstration. Each Red Fist understands that it has a role to assume, one that has been rationally assigned to it. The scheme is to fulfill certain propaganda aims during the course of a demo. This is why all Red Fists are fully and rigorously united in solidarity with one another. This solidarity is perfectly expressed when any given Red Fist fulfills what it has been assigned to do.

This is why if a Red Fist is assigned to look after a banner, there is nothing more important politically during the time of that assignment then to look after that very banner. The Red Fist must protect this banner, it must bring it to where it must be brought so that it can be seen by whom it must be seen.

In this same sprint, a Red Fist that must hurl projectiles on a line of police officers must aim as well as they can to hit as precisely as possible their target. Nothing is more important politically for them than that task.

e) A Red Fist is flexible, swift and assumes responsibility for itself. A Red Fist is part and parcel of a broader scheme, but this does not make it a dead weight to be looked after by other Red Fists. Quite the opposite. It is not either a small appendage that is inseparable from the crowd, an appendage that acts in perfect unison with the crowd wherever the crowd goes or whatever the crowd does. It is sufficiently coached to know how it must move and where it must go, how it must defend itself and through what means, how it must retreat.

9. The general characteristics of these tiny groups give them great practical value—for action and for propaganda in street demos. More specifically, they foster communist organization and the fulfillment of objectives related to the demo in the following manner:

a) They foster the participation of communist demonstrators. No form of participation is useless. Likewise no task is unimportant. Someone may feel ill-prepared or unfit to fulfill a task, however he or she may support the overall scheme and may be willing to play his or her part in the demo by participating in a Red Fist in a way that suits this person better. The overall scheme must provide for everyone participation. At the same time, the role of each Red Fist must be well planned in order to fit in with the overall scheme.

b) Preparation must be fostered over improvisation. A Red Fist must be well prepared when it comes into a demo. This holds true for each and every demo. Members of a Red Fist must have met with each other at least once or twice beforehand. In truth of fact, they should meet as many times as needed in order to properly carry out their mandate.

For example, members meet over a coffee or lunch. On this occasion the group goes over every detail in a careful manner so that everyone clearly understands his role and is able to perform it well. In this way each member of that given Red Fist can rely on each other. The means of transportation must be taken into consideration. Whose car will be used? Will it be a car borrowed from a friend, or your own or a rental? Is the given vehicle in good working condition? Does the owner have any traffic fines to pay? How much money does the Red Fist need? At the place of destination, where is it safe to park the car? Is the group knowledgeable about the area in question? Hour by hour knowledge of the days schedule: time of arrival, of departure, when the protest is going to start, how long will it last, the trip back home. The roles assigned within a Red Fist. What will be needed? Who will put the needed stuff together? When will it be done? So on and so forth. For every question that comes to mind, there must be a simple and practical answer. One must have foresight.

c) Autonomy is fostered. A Red Fist is by and large autonomous in regards to its organization. It provides for its own transportation to and from the event. It is responsible of its own gear. Either they carry it with them, or they know where and how to get it. It is also responsible in carrying out its task in the demo. It is not continually reliant upon orders, or counter-orders, or signals or directives.

d) It fosters self-defense. It is unthinkable to be staging a protest that is important for the proletariat in which the demonstrators, in a spirit of capitulation, would surrender to arrests, or still worst, would let themselves be voluntarily arrested. Such a way of acting is a terrible waste. Red fists call for resisting arrests.

It is known that the police will arrest people while being in numeric inferiority, because they assume (on account of their experience or their training) that the demonstrators won’t resist. However police are taken aback by man to man resistance when an arrest is in process and they are unable to proceed in their usual fashion. Because they are in inferior numbers, they have to re-deploy their forces. Precious time is gained in this way by the revolutionaries.

Members of a Red Fist must stay together and act in solidarity. Behavior such as walking up front as a lone-ranger bearing a flower, or pissing in front of the police is to be proscribed. This type of behavior is merely suitable for the TV cameras. A Red Fist must stay grouped together and unless this unit has any other mandate, it must stay close to the masses.

Members of a Red Fist must intervene if one of them is hassled by a policeman. The surrounding masses must be alerted by a few words or something to that effect. But one must not wait for their reaction. One must take the initiative and hope that the surrounding people will follow suit. The goal is to free the comrade from the grasp of the policeman or the policemen—one must remember that they are acting in inferior numbers. One’s fists, boots, sticks or anything that will make the officer(s) release their hold. The Red Fist can also intervene for another demonstrator. The Red Fist must again act in the same fashion, this is to say act in group formation.



Different types of Red Fists

10. The existence of many different types of Red Fists in a demo is possible. In fact there is no set limit. All depends on the complexity and the importance of the demo. The main types of Red Fists are the following:

a) Sales and distribution. This type of Red Fist takes part in a relatively simple form of agitation: distribution of leaflets, of newspapers, sales of brochures and magazines, etc. A single Red Fist or several can be used for a demo. It must be assured that it brings the right number of published material and it must provide for a way to get more if needed. Members of a Red Fist must decide upon who will hand out the propaganda (2 or 3 people) and who will assist and protect them.

b) Political identification. This Red Fist carries with it a banner or any other manner of political identification. When it is carrying a regular type of banner, two of its members must carry the banner and the rest of the team must assist them and protect them. These latter comrades can possibly bear red flags.

c) Communist agitation. According to a pre-established plan, this type of Red Fist sees to the delivery of a particular message among the demonstrators. This message may be a particular slogan, or specific watchword (advance in such or such a direction or proceed to such and such a place). The Red Fist bears red flags. It hands some out to the demonstrators around it. It strives to rally around it all who bear a red flag through its determination, enthusiasm, and tactical efficiency.

The Red Fist must be fully devoted to the masses, be strongly united with the people that surround it, offer advice, set an example by way of its actions, be communicative with the surrounding crowd, etc. It must be also very exuberant, evince a great deal of combativeness and of determination among the ranks of the demo.

d) Action. The task of this Red Fist is to attain a target. The target in question could be a billboard conveying a message of a particularly despicable nature. Other examples are the shut gate of a factory that just has been closed down, a police car, the entry to a given building, a policing device, a meeting centre, etc. This Red Fist must dispose of all the necessary material to enable it to accomplish its task. The aim of its action, at the moment it is accomplished, is to endow the demo with some sort of political direction, firstly intended to be coordinated with the task of a Red Fist that is overseeing communist agitation. Once the target hit, agitational tasks must be spread throughout the demo.

If the attack has been very well carried out the demo will have been all the more successful in terms of efficiency in striking at the class enemy&#33;

Depending on the circumstances, other Red Fist may be useful such as ones that stays on the look out or one that provides information, or one that serves as a communication link, etc.

11. Each Red Fist must see to its own preparation. Of course, during prior meetings this aspect must be dealt with. But if any comrades fail in this task, this could badly damage the outcome of the demo.

This preparation must take into consideration certain difficulties that may be encountered in demos that will be tough to carry out. It is this level of difficulty that will determine how much preparation is needed, and this even though the difficulties don’t show up as planned.

a) No drugs, alcohol, agendas, notes, documents or bags.

b) Loose seasonal clothing, preferably too warm then not warm enough, equipped with big pockets to replace an encumbering bag.

c) Dispose of a change of clothes, worn preferably underneath, allowing one to swiftly shed the clothes he or she wore during the demo, clothes that could help the police identify the demonstrator.

d) No contact lenses; eye glasses must be secured by something in order not to be lost.

e) Eyeware protection, such as swimming goggles, a mask, a scarf or a piece of cotton. The scarf serves to make the demonstrator unrecognizable. It also protects partly against tear gas.

f) At least one bottle of plastic (such as a soft drink bottle), filled with vinegar. One for every Red Fist.

g) Any protective equipment: gloves, pads, or something similar fastened with tape, etc., that will make one reassured if there is any body to body contact with the police.

(March 2001)

* * *

(From People’s War Digest, No. 1, June 2004)

[STI]

Added a bit about Shemaghs.

Good post Marcell.